A.G. Gancarski
A few weeks back, there was talk of mass Democratic Party boycotts of the Benjamin Netanyahu speech to Congress Tuesday. That list has dwindled. Now, apparently, there will be just one boycott of the Israeli PM’s address from the Florida Democratic delegation: Rep. Corrine Brown of the 5th District.
According to Brown spokesman David Simon, her boycott is rooted in her belief that “it is completely inappropriate for the invite to have come from Speaker Boehner, who not only bypassed President Obama and the State Department but did not even inform them that the House leadership was inviting the Israeli Prime Minister to address Congress.”
Brown, of course, has the political luxury of a boycott. She is in a safe seat, thanks to an exquisitely gerrymandered district, and she isn’t likely to face a substantial challenge in the primary or the general election next year. And beyond this issue, she has built a record as a “strong supporter” of Israel, saying not too long ago that “I have always voted 100% in favor of all issues relating to Israel, such as legislation relating to funding, or Resolutions calling for Israel’s right to defend itself and condemning terrorist attacks against Israel.”
We’re reached out to Representative Brown’s office to expand her reported statement, as well as to Republican Rep. Ander Crenshaw, for comment on his colleague’s boycott. No response as of yet, but if we hear back from either, we will update this post with those comments.
